Jerry Burgess Davis

Jerry Burgess Davis, 80, of Williston, passed away on Sunday, March 3, 2024, at ECU Health Center.

A funeral service to honor Jerry’s life will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 9^th at Smyrna Pentecostal Holiness Church, officiated by Malcolm Garland. Interment will follow at George Gaskill Cemetery in Gloucester. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., Friday, March 8^th at the church. For those unable to attend, the service can be viewed through his obituary page on Munden Funeral Home’s website. The service will remain on the Funeral Home website for 90 days.

Jerry was born on March 6, 1943, in Straits, to the late Adrian Burgess Davis and Hannah Gaskill Davis. By the age of 4, the family moved from Straits to Williston to be near family. He attended nearby Smyrna School where he made life-long friends and grew up in the “close nit” communities of “Down East”. Down East was his favorite place. If he could pick anywhere in the world to be, it would always be Down East, it was home.

Jerry began working at a very early age, often going with his daddy to work at Cannon Boat Works when he wasn’t in school. Eventually, at the age of 14, he began to work at the ICE Plant in Beaufort, known to most as Carteret Quick Freeze. He would often catch a ride with his family to work. Sometimes he would travel by water in what was called a “skip jack” skiff to the ICE Plant. 

Jerry was always mechanically inclined and was usually found tinkering on old cars, trucks, boats, and even bicycles. He would take the engines out, take them apart, or fix up a skiff to go into Williston Creek, and most importantly was that he made them go faster. He would save up his money to purchase a car and sometimes his daddy would help him, but he always worked for what he got. He knew the value of a dollar and how hard work, a lot of ambition, and perseverance always paid off. These values were instilled in him early on by his parents, and later he would pass them on to his family.

After getting his license and having his own car he would sometimes frequent the local hangout with friends. In 1962, he met the love of his life, Linda Mason, at the Lighthouse Grill. Jerry and Linda were inseparable from that time until now, celebrating 60 years of marriage on February 23, 2024. They welcomed a daughter, Debbie, the following December, an only child, she was the light of his life. 

Now, with a family to provide for, he set his sights on higher goals. Jerry was a visionary who along with his wife’s support, founded his own Construction Business in 1970, leaving a lasting legacy to his family and the community. He was known for his strong work ethic, yet he approached each day with passion and enthusiasm that made his work feel like a labor of love. Jerry had the notion that if you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life. Working up until just a few months before his death is a testimony, to say the least. He was committed to his customers and believed in the “Golden Rule”. As the company grew, and he had to begin hiring an additional work crew, he felt that not only did he have to provide for his own family, but also for theirs. It was and still is truly a family business. His daughter joined the business after graduating from college and has been working side by side with Jerry and Linda since 1986.

Having grown up in the business, like many of the Down East families do, it only seemed like the right path to take, Down East families always being self-sufficient. Eventually, a son-in-law came along, and he too became involved in the business, keeping day to day operations going alongside Jerry. Jerry has left behind some big shoes to fill, but he has prepared them to carry on.

Jerry loved and enjoyed his family and friends. Telling stories of time gone by, while setting a mullet net off the back of his Island Boat was a favorite pastime. He loved cookouts and oyster roasts at the barn and loved to dance. He especially loved the 4^th of July family fireworks. However, his biggest joy came in 2007. A granddaughter was born, Hannah Kate, named after his mother. He was so proud of her, she was the apple of his eye and he stood at attention at the name “grandaddy”. They had a special bond and he was blessed to have 16 years to teach her and show her how to be upright, kind, and humble. He always took time to spend with her, riding her on his tractor, and dozer, or just letting her swing the boom on his excavator while teaching life lessons.

Jerry was a giving man, always willing to help those in need, giving unselfishly to the communities and countless organizations over his lifetime. He never expected recognition and always gave from his heart. Jerry was a light to all he met and he surely will be missed.

Those remaining to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 60 years, Linda Mason Davis of the home; daughter, Debbie Davis and husband Jason Gillikin of Williston; sisters, Barbara Willis and husband Willie of Williston, and Sherry Noulles of Chapel Hill; granddaughter, Hannah Kate Gillikin of Williston; many loving brothers and sisters-in-law; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Jerry was preceded in death by his sister, Jacqueline Patty Davis.

Flowers are welcome or donations may be made to St. Jude’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.